Machine for stringing pianos



(No.Model.)

F. W. HEDGELAND.

MACHINE FOR STRINGING PIANOS. No. 520,595. Patented May 29, 1894.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

FREDERICK W. HEDGELAND, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MACHINE FOR STRINGING PIANOS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 520,595, dated May 29, 1894.

Application filerlMaroh 14, 1894 $erial No. 503,577 (No modeLl To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK W. HEDGE- LAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Stringing Pianos, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, that will enable others to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to a machine or device for attaching the strings in the manufacture of pianos, and has for its object to provide a convenient device of this character whereby the operation of stringing a piano or similar musical instrument is greatly facilitated.

In the drawings: Figure l is a part elevation and part section, showing the device in position for use; Fig. 2, a broken-away sectional elevation of a part of the device; and Fig. 3, a broken-away plan, showing the position of the device with reference to the tuning-pins and pinblock.

A A may represent a pair of horses sup' porting the respective ends of the piano frame, B the piano back, 13 the sounding-board, B the string or strings, and B the tuning pinblock. A rail or bar, C, is rigidly mounted longitudinally on one of the supporting horses or trestles. A sliding-block C is seated on and engages loosely with the flanged head of the barC and is adapted to have a longitudinal adjustment thereon in bringing said block into position with reference to the location of the tuning-pins. A post a is swiveled in sliding-block C so as to be capable of a turning or rotary movement. One end of a two part jointed lever-arm D is pivoted to the post a; the opposite or inner end being pivoted to a lug a formed on a sleeve D. The arm D is provided near its longitudinal center with a pivot or hinge-joint a to permit of a horizontal adjustment. The sleeve D, pivotally connected to the inner end of the lever-arm, loosely incloses a stock E, the respective ends of which project beyond the end of the sleeve, as shown in Fig, 2. The stock is provided with a stop-shoulder a which fixes its downward endwise movement with relation to' the inclosing sleeve. The upper end of the stock is provided with a handle a for the purpose of rotating the same in turning the tuningpins when attaching the strings. The lower square head-end of the tuning-pin or pins b.

A driving-rod F is inserted longitudinally through the stock, stopping just short of the lower end thereof. The lower end of this rod is intended to have contact with the head-end of the tuning-pins, so that a tap on the upper end will drive in the pin. A shoulder b limits the downward movement of the driving-rod so that the pins cannot be driven into the pin-block beyond a certain point. A rod or string-lifter d is inserted through a chamber d, formed on the sleeve D, and has its lower end turned at right-angles to bear against the tuning-pins and hold the strings at the required height and force the coils closely together as they are formed on the pin. A spring (:1 located in chamber at and coiled on rod d is intended to exertan upward or lifting pressure on the string or coil through the medium of the rod (1. By means of a handle d mounted on the upper end of rod d, the lifter may be turned to disengage the same from the springs. A cam-lever d is pivotally connected to the sleeve D; the camend being adapted to have contact with the upper end of the string-lifting rod and force the same downwardly against the tension of spring d so that the lifter-rod may be conveniently disengaged. A gage-screw g is inserted down through the lever-arm and has a bearing on slide-block C. The function of this screw is to raise or lower the inner end of the lever-arm and the sleeve and stock carried thereon so that these parts may be adj usted to the required position with reference to the setting of the tuning-pins. By means of the sliding pivotal support and the jointed lever-arm, the sleeve and. stock of the device may be turned to any angle or position to engage with each of the tuning-pins in order, as the operation of attachingthe strings progrosses.

In practical working, the end of the string is secured to the tuning-pin in the usual manner, which is, loosely inserted in the pinblock. The lower end of the stock is then made to engage with the head of the pin and rotated, which imparts a corresponding movement to the pin, until the required number of coils have been formed, a blow on the driving-rod sets the pin, the string-lifter is then disengaged by the means described and the device swung to engage with another pin, and so on until the operation is completed.

I do not limit or confine myself to the precise details and arrangement shown, but may make such changes as practical working may require without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1'. In a device of the kind described, the combination with a jointed lever=arm, pivotallysupported'atits outer end, asleeve, having a pivotal connection with the opposite or inner end of said arm, a stock, loosely inclosed by said sleeve and provided in its lowerend with aso'cket' or recess to engage with the headend of a tuning-pin in the operation of attachin'gthe strings, substantially as set forth.

2.- In a device of the kind described, the combination with a jointed lever-arm, having a pivotal connection and swiveling support at its upperend, a sleeve, pivoted to the inner or opposite end ofsaid arm, a stock, inclosed andsupportedby said sleeve and adapted'to engage with the head-end of the tuning-pins,- an'd a -handle, forrotatin g said stock, substantially asset forth.

3. In a: device of the kind described, the combination with the stock, adaptedto engage withand rotate the tuning-pins, of a drivingrod, inserted longitudinallytherethrough and h'avin g contact with the tuning-pin, whereby the pin or-pinsmay be forced in andseated in the operation of stringinga piano, substantially as set forth.

4'. In. adevice of the kind described, the

combination with a jointed lever-arm, pivotally connected at its outer end, a sleeve, pivotally connected to the inner end of said arm, a stock, loosely inclosed by said sleeve, a 1'0- tating handle, attached to the stock, and a driving-rod, inserted in said stock, substantially as set forth.

5. In a device of the kind described, the combination with a suitable stationary support, of a sliding-block, adj ustably mounted on said support, a post, swiveled in said block, a jointed lever-arm,pivoted at one end to said post, a sleeve, pivoted to and supported on the opposite end of said arm, a stock, supported in said sleeve, a rotating handle attached to said stock, and a driving-rod, in serted longitudinally in said stock, substantially as set forth.

6. In a device of the kind described, the combination with a sleeve, provided with chamber, of a string-lifting rod, extending through said chamber, a-spring, located in said chamber-and coiled on said rod, and a cam-lever, pivoted to said sleeve and adapted to shift said rod against the tension of the spring in disengaging thelifter, substantially as set forth.

7. In a device of the kinddescribed, the combination with an adjustable'support, of a jointed lever-arm, pivoted at one end thereto, a sleeve, pivoted to-the opposite end of said arm, a stock, loosely supported in the sleeve, a rotating handle, a driving-rod, insertedin said stock, a string-lifting rod, attached to said sleeve, a spring, coiled on said rod, and

a cam-lever, pivoted to said'rod and having.

contact with said lifting-rod, substantially as setforth.

FREDERICK WV. HEDGELAND.

Witnesses:

L. M. FREEMAN, J. B. DONALSON. 

